Eco-friendly Food Delivery Experience

Product Design

Nov - Dec 2021

Food delivery has become an integral part of life in Korea and many countries worldwide. COVID-19 has only accelerated this trend in Korea, where food delivery services have grown into a 10-billion-dollar industry. Data from September 2020 revealed a 28 percent monthly increase compared to August. However, an unfortunate side effect of this trend is the increase in plastic waste and carbon emissions.

To tackle this issue, I have developed an environmentally friendly practice that encompasses the entire food delivery process. This includes the selection of eco-friendly food and packaging materials, as well as the use of electric or low-emission vehicles for delivery. The goal is to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with food delivery services and minimize their environmental impact.

Role

User Research, Interaction Design, UI Design

Team

UX designers, Software Engineer

Tools

Figma

However,

It's creating a tremendous amount of garbage and carbon footprint. The issue of one-usage products remains obscured behind the delivered delicious food.

“Out of sight, out of mind.”

8.3m

disposable food containers trash is produced every day in South Korea.

100k

delivery motorcycles run for delivery services every day in Seoul, South Korea.

Problem Space

76% of the population in Korea feel guilty when they throw away disposable trash because they do not have alternatives for food delivery or information about the environmental impact of food.

Lack of Visibility

No access to information around restaurants’ use of recyclable and eco-friendly packaging

No Alternatives

No options for food packaging and delivery to consumers

Design Goal

How can we reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions while enjoying the convenience of food delivery?

By providing visibility of sustainability data across food supply chains, the design solution will encourage consumers to make informed decisions when ordering delivery food.

Data Visibility

Provide data that can help customers lead to sustainable actions

Eco-friendly Alternatives

Help customers make educated choices when they are able to see eco-friendly delivery methods and packaging options

Redesigning a sustainable food delivery service

  • Visibility of the carbon impact of choices made by food delivery platforms
  • Simple and delightful user experience to make it easy to understand and choose eco-friendly alternatives
  • Consumers can track their environmental impact
Prototyping and Iterations

I generated initial concepts for user feedback and translated them into rapid prototypes within the food delivery user experience flow. By visualizing the user journey in the context of food ordering, I gained valuable insights and identified design opportunities to encourage changes in user behavior towards more eco-friendly choices. It became evident that many consumers heavily relied on others' reviews, rating scores, and visually appealing images.

Screenshot of prototypes mapped out on the user journey

Application Realization Diagram

I designed a system architecture to illustrate how the calculated 'eco-friendly' scores can be integrated into the UI as a feature. Utilizing SAP's cloud carbon footprint analytics and the SAP Cloud Platform, I proposed a new system landscape to integrate data from raw materials from farms and factories to restaurants and delivery.

Carbon Footprint Calculating

  • Calculating the CO2 emissions of food production: Actual raw materials used in the product (based on the S/4HANA Bill of Materials) and the production steps (based on the S/4HANA Routings/Recipes)
  • Calculating the quantities of ordering: Look at the actual sales quantities for a specific product
Choose a Restaurant & Food

"Eco-rating" allows customers to compare the environmental impact of restaurants and menu items, helping them make more eco-friendly dining choices.

Listing restaurants by eco-rating

"Eco-rating" helps customers compare the environmental impact of different restaurants.

Eco-rating for dishes

In addition, consumers can easily understand the environmental impact of each menu item and make more environmentally friendly choices.

Choose Options & Payment

Users can choose eco-friendly food delivery options, including personal visits with your own containers and selecting sustainable delivery methods. This trend benefits the automotive industry, motivates through reward points, and fosters a community of shared eco-friendly practices.

Alternative ways to deliver

You can choose environmentally friendly food delivery options, from personally visiting and packaging to selecting eco-friendly delivery methods. The increasing preference for environmentally friendly delivery methods by consumers will also have a positive impact on the automotive industry.

Packaging Options

Various ideas are possible for food packaging, such as the option to personally bring your own container. Additionally, by choosing eco-friendly methods, the points collected can be used like cash, providing motivation.

Feedback

Shows your eco-friendly choices so far. You can collectively create eco-friendly activities together by sharing experiences with others.

Impacts

on User

  • Adding a user experience to an app can have a positive environmental impact.
  • Data transparency promotes better environmental decision-making.
  • Consumers’ right to have alternatives for sustainability is necessary.

on Business

  • The Food platform businesses has the opportunity to make a significant environmental impact by providing data visibility.
  • By having integrated data on CO2 emissions throughout all business points, the company can leverage this information for further ideation and strategic decision-making.

on Society

  • The increased awareness of sustainable purchasing habits and their environmental impact will become more prevalent.
  • Apps providing eco-related information are expected to become a standard in the market, contributing to a further advancement in consumption habits.
What I Learned
  • I was able to explore various ways in which individuals can have a positive impact on the environment, and I learned that when these individual choices come together, they can collectively have an impact on the environment.
  • I learned that with the help of technology, it is possible to measure carbon dioxide emissions from the process of food ingredients being produced, distributed, cooked in restaurants, and delivered to consumers.
2024
emailLinkedinphone
Earl Kim